The Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-103 this past Wednesday at FedExForum. The combination of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continuing to make his MVP case with a 41-point performance on the road against a Western Conference contender, alongside a crucial rally in the third quarter, allowed the Thunder to leave Memphis with another victory. This win increased their lead over the Grizzlies in the Western Conference. Ultimately, this game paired with the Grizzlies’ troubling stretch shows why they aren’t title contenders.
Why The Grizzlies Aren’t Title Contenders
Oklahoma City’s Well-Oiled Machine
The Thunder are as refined of an NBA team as there is. They have quality players everywhere and star power with SGA, who is the frontrunner for MVP. In terms of weaknesses, the Thunder’s roster is much like the Grizzlies’ but with more enhanced star power. SGA is playing at an MVP level, while Ja Morant is still looking to regain his form from before his injuries and off-the-court issues. The Thunder’s front office has done a commendable job building a team that can compete not only now but for many more years to come, with assets continuing to flow in from previous trades.
Grizzlies’ Recent Struggles
The Memphis Grizzlies are currently 3-7 in their past 10 games. This recent slump has caused them to drop to fourth in the Western Conference. The Denver Nuggets have continued to excel, which has also contributed to the Grizzlies’ fall in the standings. Additionally, the Lakers have been dominant lately, further complicating things for Memphis. The Grizzlies were comfortably in the second seed about a week ago. Now, they are 2.5 games behind the second-seeded Lakers.
This decline is concerning for the Grizzlies. The actual run itself is not the major issue, as they have faced injury problems with their top two players—Ja Morant missed two games, and Jaren Jackson Jr. played just two minutes in one game and completely missed the game against OKC. However, the speed at which they have fallen to fourth place is alarming for an organization with high hopes for this season. This was supposed to be the time for the Grizzlies to get healthy and start finding their rhythm heading into the playoffs. Instead, they are continuing to suffer injuries and are dropping rapidly in the Western Conference standings.
The Growing Gap Between the Thunder and Grizzlies
Another issue the Grizzlies face is the realistic odds that they can even compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder this season. The Grizzlies are 13 games behind OKC in the playoff standings, which is a good representation of the gap between these two teams. The Thunder are also 3-0 against the Grizzlies this season, with the two most recent wins coming in Memphis. None of those games were particularly close; in fact, the Thunder were able to “coast” to victory.
In those three games, the Thunder averaged an 18-point margin of victory against the Grizzlies. This is significant for a regular-season series between two teams with NBA Finals aspirations. It’s also worth noting that Chet Holmgren did not play in any of those games for OKC. With him on the team, the Thunder are a completely different basketball unit. Holmgren’s unique abilities on both ends of the floor add even more strength to an already impressive roster.
It’s fair to say the gap between OKC and the Grizzlies is wide. Believing that Memphis has the best chance in the West to upset OKC in the playoffs seems naive. The Nuggets continue to play elite basketball. They are led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and have a proven championship core. Meanwhile, the Lakers have surged out of nowhere with the recent addition of Luka Doncic.
The Path Forward for the Grizzlies
For the Grizzlies to reach a point where they can realistically be considered contenders to upset OKC, Morant must be able to match the production of OKC’s star SGA. To do that, he must return to his performance levels from before all the off-the-court issues. Additionally, the Grizzlies must stay healthy to build a groove and enter the playoffs with momentum. If they continue to play as inconsistently as they are right now, forget about competing with OKC—they could be looking at a first-round exit. In the scenario where the Grizzlies lose early in the first round, they could make a blockbuster trade in the offseason.
Photo credit: © Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
